Russia's Aussie beef ban 'dubious': Joyce

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce believes Russia's claim it banned Australian chilled beef imports because it found growth steroids is dubious and tensions over Crimea may be behind it.

Russia will ban all chilled and frozen beef from Australia from Monday over claims it has detected the growth stimulant trenbolone, which it considers unsafe.

Mr Joyce on Thursday said he found those claims "dubious" as it was highly unlikely that growth stimulants were used in premium wagyu beef, which Russia imported.

"We haven't found it," he told ABC radio.

"It just doesn't ring true. It wouldn't be possible to get it through.

"It's like saying we found roses growing wild in the hill - it might've, but I doubt it."

It was more likely diplomatic issues were interfering with trade, given Australia had imposed its own sanctions on Russia in response to the Crimean crisis.

"It's not about growth hormones, so you have to work out what it's about," Mr Joyce said.

In the meantime, Australia will develop other trade markets with China and Korea, to stem the leak of the estimated $110 million annual market.

While most international markets accepted beef produced from animals treated with the growth stimulant trenbolone, Russia did not.